You don't have to go off-road or hit hundreds of potholes and speed bumps to cause adjustment problems. Daily driving can cause your wheels to become misaligned. Over time, these misaligned tire and wheel assemblies will affect your gas mileage (MPG), cause tires to wear out faster and reduce drivability. Here you can read why you need regular wheel alignment and how Les Schwab can help you.
What is a wheel alignment?
A wheel alignment is the process of returning the angles of your vehicle's steering and suspension components to original specifications. This means that the front and rear wheels are aligned with the centerline of the vehicle, which optimizes handling and fuel consumption. An alignment is performed using a special machine that measures the wheel angles against your vehicle's original specifications. The technician then makes adjustments if necessary.
When your vehicle needs an adjustment, the experts at Les Schwab will make an adjustment that is most suitable for your vehicle. These can include four-wheel alignment for front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and most passenger cars, and pressure adjustment for many larger trucks and SUVs.
Why customization is important
Regular adjustments should be carried out twice a year as part ofyour basic car maintenance. Why? Because misaligned tire and wheel assemblies affect your gas mileage, they will wear out your tires more quickly and reduce handling.
When your vehicle is aligned, all four wheels are pointing in the same direction, aligned front to back, and making contact with the road at the correct angle.
How your vehicle goes out of alignment
Dirt roads, bumpy highways, potholes, curbs and speed bumps can throw your vehicle off course. Additionally, fit problems will slowly occur over time due to normal wear and tear.
To quickly analyze your car's alignment, ask yourself the following questions during your next drive:
- Does your car or truck pull to one side while driving?
- Is your steering wheel turned slightly to one side when you drive straight?
- When you come out of a turn, does your steering wheel return to center easily? In other words, it goes back to the center (or almost the center) without much work on your part.
- Do you constantly make small steering corrections on the highway or freeway?
- Do you have excessive wear on the inside or outside of one or more of your tires?
If you answered yes to the above question, your car or truck may need to be modified. But because alignment problems can be difficult to spot, it's a good idea to have yours checked twice a yeareven if you don't notice any problems.
Les Schwab-tip:It is a common misconception that you only need a tune-up if the vehicle is not driving properly. This is often not the case. Getting your alignment checked twice a year can help prevent unexpected tire wear and/or fuel consumption.
Common signs and symptoms of wheel misalignment
It is important to maintain proper wheel alignment on your vehicle. While it is advisable to have your alignment performed once or twice a year, there are other times when an alignment may be necessary to prevent loss of gas mileage and excessive tire wear.
This may include any of the following:
You get new tires:
We recommend an adjustment after installing new tires. This way you get the most out of your new tires. Wheel alignment checks are always advised after a significant impact or when uneven tire wear is detected.
You lower or raise your vehicle:
Raising or lowering a vehicle affects yourteen-, camber- of casterhoeken. This also applies to the repair or replacement of suspension and steering components: struts, shock absorbers, ball joints, tie rods, bushings or wishbones. If any of these components are damaged, it's a good bet that your vehicle's alignment is out of spec.
Adjustments or replacement of suspension parts:
This can affect the angle of your tires and wheels.
You've had a Fender bender or a hard hit with a curb or road debris:
These can include potholes and other hazards.Stop at Les Schwaband we will do a free visual inspection.
It's been a year since your last:
Annual maintenance can help you save money and increase the safety of your outings and daily commutes.
You notice uneven tire wear or uneven steering:
The most common signs of misalignment are pulling to one side while driving, unusual tire wear, and/or a steering wheel that is out of alignment even though your car is straight ahead. But these symptoms can have other causes, sometimes simpler and sometimes not.
An off-center handlebar can be caused by worn steering or suspension parts. Adjustment alone may not solve the cause.
Irregular tire wear isn't just limited to suspension parts, fender benders or alignment issues, but that's a good place to start. Stop by Les Schwab for a free pre-ride safety check, including a visual inspection of the alignment and associated steering and suspension components that keep you safely on the road.
Les Schwab-tip:There are no downsides to an adjustment check on Les Schwab. If we check your alignment and no work is required, you pay nothing.
Steering can also be caused by road conditions
If the asphalt has grooves that are a little further apart than the axles of your car, you may feel resistance because the tires ride a little higher on one side. If the road is noticeably higher in the middle, the vehicle may sway as the tires try to find level ground.
Les Schwab-tip:Vibrations while driving are often a symptom of thistires that are out of balance, no bad alignment.
What does your mechanic pay attention to during a repair service?
When you have your adjustment done at Les Schwab, you get oursBest promise of adjustment and suspension valuealong with a job done right the first time. You will also receive the full attention of one of our professional, certified technicians using best-in-class laser technology.
When they're done, they'll get your vehicle back in linecamber, caster and toe.
Camber affects tire wear
The inward and outward slope of the tire and wheel assembly (as viewed from the front of the vehicle) is called camber. When the top of the tire slopes inward, it has negative camber. With positive camber, the top of the tire is tilted outward. Each manufacturer sets a specific camber adjustment for each vehicle it produces, which can be positive, negative or zero (0º). When the camber is the right angle, the tire and wheel roll straight.
In general, camber plays a key role in cornering. If the camber falls outside the manufacturer's range, it can cause drivability and excessive tire wear, costing you money. If a vehicle has rear camber adjustments, the rear camber adjustment, in addition to the front, plays a major role in straight-line stability and cornering.
Image: Hunter Engineering Company
Caster affects the steering and handling
Have you ever tried to ride a bike without using your hands? The fact that you could mean that your bike had a positive wheel. If the wheel were zero (0º) or negative, it would be virtually impossible to drive that way. The same can be said about your vehicle.
Modern vehicles have some degree of positive caster, where the steering axis is tilted rearwards towards the driver. While caster doesn't affect tire wear like camber, it does have a major impact on steering and handling.
The higher the wheel, the more stability a vehicle will have at higher speeds. Lower wheels provide a more responsive ride.
Image: Hunter Engineering Company
Toe is the most important angle for tire life
Of all the angles, the toe can fall out of alignment the easiest. A toe that is properly calibrated to the manufacturer's specifications (which can be either slightly positive or negative) will read zero (0º) on the road. This means that all tire and wheel assemblies (front and rear) point in the same direction.
What does it mean if the toe is misaligned? This means your tires are wearing out faster than they should and you're burning more fuel than necessary. When the toe is at the correct angle, there is less friction on the tires while rolling. When they're pointed away from each other (toe-out) or toward each other (toe-in), they essentially scrub the road a little bit with each passing mile.
Image: Hunter Engineering Company
Measurements before and after an alignment
Tip, before you get service
Because the measurements are very fine, misalignment is not something you can spot just by looking at whether the angles of the wheels and tires look right. But an experienced tire technician can usually tell if you're overdue for a service just by looking at your tire wear.
Here's what you need to know if the service is recommended:
- If you have a damaged suspension part, replace it first. Worn or bad parts will cause your vehicle to be out of spec.
- The technician may recommend a pressure adjustment or a four-wheel adjustment.Here's an introductionto understand what they are talking about.
- Before the service, let the technician know that you want a printout showing what your alignment measurements were before the work and the final settings for your registrations.
We will check your alignment for free
Regular adjustments are part of itbasic maintenanceallowing you to get the full mileage out of your tires. The professionals at your local Les Schwab can take a look at your vehicle's suspension and alignment components and let you know if any repairs are needed. If everything is fine, it won't cost you anything. But if you need a service, we'll tell you what it will cost, give you a time estimate, and send you on your way with the promise of the best service and suspension value, including a 30-day period. Guarantee.
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